Christmas is coming down to Operation Santa and you

The envelopes are piling up with their checks for the Charles Cherniss Tournament of Toys, and for that, it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, at last.

So, thanks for that, you generous donors, and for everyone else, there’s still time to get in on the act. The plan is simple: In conjunction with the Pasadena Jaycees’ Operation Santa, we buy toys that Mrs. Claus and Santa deliver to kids around the West San Gabriel Valley Christmas Eve. Your tax-deductible checks make that possible as we buy toys in bulk from Southern California wholesalers. They can be made out to Tournament of Toys and mailed to CC ToT, c/o Larry Wilson, Pasadena Star-News, 911 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91106.

And I noticed over the weekend that the Patagonia store at Union and Fair Oaks in Old Pasadena has its barrel for us out near the front door, so if you’d rather place an unwrapped toy or children’s book in there, that would be great as well.

Now that we’re getting down to the wire, yes, your monetary contribution will likely be used in next year’s toy buy. But that’s good; we can buy when demand is a bit slower. And down to the wire is precisely what the Jaycees are with the 24th approaching fast.

Each year at this time, they get a bit worried about having enough turnout of volunteer Santas and Mrs. Clauses for the Christmas Eve deliveries.

If you’ve got the slightest interest in getting involved, they’d still like to talk to you, even at this late date. Or if you’ve got a college student or other relative coming back into town next week who’ll be looking for something fun to do out of the house, have her or him sign up to be a Mrs. Claus or Santa on Christmas Eve and deliver toys to some of over 3,000 girls and boys in the local area who’ve written letters to St. Nick.

The Jaycees provide the Santa suits, beards and belts, and promise that you will provide children with a lifetime of memories and smiles.

If you’re not up to or not into the driving and schlepping, the Jaycees note that elves are also welcome to help with the logistics involving a huge pile of toys at the Scottish Rite Temple on North Madison and the complicated matter of getting it all sorted out and presents to the right places Christmas Eve.

Like to get involved with an event that has been part of the heart and soul of the community since 1935? Find the Pasadena Jaycees’ page on Facebook for signup info or write christineholland@gmail.com to find out how. Make it a merry Christmas indeed.

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At a neighborhood fire station pancake breakfast, Councilman Steve Madison was telling me about the time he met President Obama and they started talking about Barry, Occidental College version. The president lived in Pasadena for a year, I guess his sophomore year, and since he famously hung out in Old Pas so much, painting the town red, not studying a whole lot, Madison figured maybe it was in his council district. “Street started with a G,” the president said. “Green Street, maybe?” the councilman asked. Finally turned out to be Glenarm, way down by Blair High. More like Councilman Terry Tornek’s district. City’s trying to find which apartment building, and will eventually place a plaque. And why not? Our own version of “George Washington slept here.”